V-Flyer

This is my first trip report – so I hope it is okay!! I got to Sydney airportfor my return to London at around 12.00 for a 2.25 pm take off, the check in staff were lovely. Surprisingly the Upper class check in was empty (although travelling in PE could use it as a gold card) they were super nice and I asked if we could move our seats (travelling 23 or so hours in the middle section with a four and a half year old I thought might be a bit of a test of patience to the person next to us!!) but they said the flight was full and I couldn’t change. I asked about upgrades using miles but again was told that that was a no go due to the busy flight. I was a bit despondent and just said to the guy oh well – sure it will be fine – when he perked up with – well I have got you the front row PE seats for the HK to London section Yipppeeeee!!
So with that we set off through security – they seemed a bit more relaxed than those in Newark (where we normally travel to) so we were through pretty quickly and off to the air New Zealand lounge. Sydney airport is HUGE!! I think we might have gone the long way round, as it took AGES to get to the lounge / Virgin gate, I think we went through 2 enormous duty free sections before finally arriving at a very busy lounge. Grabbed a cheese sandwich toastie (quite tasty actually) and an apple juice for my daughter and a tomato juice and salad for me and settled down to watching the planes take off and land and to checking emails etc. The thing that I really did like about the lounge as apposed to the Virgin one in LHR is that in Air New Zealand you can help yourself to something when you first come in – it just means that as soon as you sit down you can grab a drink and some nibbles before settling on what you would like to eat. If I was asked for suggestions on the Virgin Clubhouse in London I would suggest a large fridge stocked with water and soft drinks – with crisps olives etc available that you could help yourself to as an additional option - and then they could serve you the alcoholic drinks etc and main dishes as they do now.....and while I am on this subject wouldn’t it be GREAT if you could help yourself to tea / coffee/ juice and water etc in the Newark Clubhouse when waiting for the early morning flight, that to me would be a big improvement!
Anyway the flight was indeed full and we settled in to a comfy seat. No champers offered before take off(maybe they thought it would be irresponsible as travelling with a child?!! )So didn’t ask but did manage a white wine with lunch and a bailies type drink afterwards. The food was good – but the entertainment sadly was of course the same as the flight on the way out and I think the same as the three Newark flights I had taken over the previous few weeks, still there was loads still on there so had a serf around. The cabin crew were great as always but no recognition of gold status (in the past the FSM has introduced themsleves and said thank you for being a loyal customer etc but not on this flight or the one on the way out. The only thing that was a bit bizarre was the pilot announcement when we landed, he made a few references to Star Wars – Jedi Knights etc and then ended the announcement by saying “may the force be with you”!
The Hong Kong lounge was BRILLIANT! I have to say the service there is absolutely amazing, they rushed up to us and immediately brought an iced water and some lovely noodle soup thing – the showers were booked but we were in the que and managed one before rushing back to the plane. Our new seats were GREAT! The cabin crew again superb and one lady recognised us from our outwood leg (we were in Upper on that trip ahhhh now that was lovely ) anyway the flight was a night flight so after another meal !! and a glass of white wine for me, we settled back to trying to sleep. The only downside to these seats is of course the noise and light from the galley but it wasn’t too bad. I managed about an hour or so. We landed super early – I think it was about 4.30am ish and we were the first flight into Heathrow. I was told by someone that Heathrow didn’t open until 5am but that must not have been the case as we went straight in – no circiling or messing around ! one of the stewardesses say they call this pilot the rocket as he is always early ! I have never ever seen Heathrow so quiet, it was amazing we were literally out in a matter of minutes and our bags were already there. Sometimes I am amazed that they can get them out so quickly. As we were so early (our taxi had not yet arrived ) we popped in to arrivals (it had only just opened at 5am) and had the delicious carrot juice and a muffin, with a rather cold coffee to be honest. I was told that there were no treatments until 6.15am (I had had the head massage there before and it was amazing) but wasn’t surprised, I don’t seem to have much luck with treatments – it must be me!! Of the past 4 or so flights out of Heathrow since July I have only managed to get one treatment in the clubhouse maybe I just leave it to late?? No matter – the taxi was on its way and we were soon on to the deserted M4 heading back to London and a full days work eeeeek!
I was very pleased with the whole Virgin experience and really felt they looked after us well. The flight was almost a pleasure (and that is saying something when it is over 20 hours with a four year old!) But the cabin crew really could not have done more to make it enjoyable, offering up cookies and ice cream, when my daughter woke up hungry. Thanks Virgin!!

Thanks for the TR.
Amazed you did that flight straight through (no overnight at HK) with a 4 year old.
I would have struggled on my own lol

Nice TR.

As for going in to work straight off a flight from Sydney? Hardcore.

Thank you for the TR. I too am a great fan of the HKG CH en route to SYD but still struggle with the jet lag on arrival without a 4 year old in tow!

I know it was pretty brutal to be honest and being back at work was a real struggle. I agree about breaking the journey in HK for longer next time - its almost worth going back there just for the clubhouse noodle soup ....

Thank you for excellent inaugural TR

I take my hat off to you for doing the entire Sydney to London journey in one hit and it is clear that having the ability to refresh in the Hong Kong Clubhouse was a great help

Thanks once again

buns

Great TR and super good to hear of the great crews. People bemoan LHR as a shopping mall but I encourage all to experience SYD's duty free in your face shopping! I agree about the HKG clubhouse too though, as you note, you have to be quick to get a shower.